Flashlight



July 18, 1939. H. s. GRAUBNER FLASHLIGHT Filed Sept. 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HERMAN G. GPA UBNER' ATTORNEY y 8, 1939. H. G. GRAUBNER 2,166,682

FLASHLIGHT 4 Filed Sept. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [1V VE N TOR 48 0 HERMAN 6. GPA UBNER A TTORNEY Gil Patented July 18, 1939 FLASHLIGHT Herman G. Graubner, New York, N. Y., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Union. Carbide and Carbon Corporation, a corporation of. New York Application September 18, 1935;- Serial No.-4 ,01'5

18' Claims.

I The invention pertains toflashlights, suchas thosehaving tubular casings, and more-specifically to the structure and the meansfor joining th component parts of such casings.

It has been thegeneral practice heretofore to jointhe component parts of tubular flashlight casings by means of interfitting threads, and sincethe thickness of the metal in these parts is often less than the depth of the thread desired they have been produced by deforming the metal into threaded contours which appear on both the inner and outer surfaces. Due to the nature of these threads they are usually inaccurate in size and so these parts. have not been held together. as securely and accurately as desirable in a. structure of this type. Therefore, one of the.objects.ofthislinvention is to provide-a flashlight casing in which the component parts are more securely held together in a definiterelative relation thanheretofore.

In prior flashlights. it has been the general practice to provide a casing having: end. portions that. were removable, and these removable'portions were undesirable since they were subject to .loss, damage, and. misplacement when detached. Therefore, another object of this invention. is toprovideaflashlight having. a casing in which the end portions. are not. detachable, but still may be. withdrawn. from. the central body for thepurpose of renewing the. lamp bulb and battery. Another object is to provide a. flashlight casing of improved mechanical construction having the advantage that the lines of. configuration may be, rendered more pleasing in appearance.

, Other objects are to provide a flashlight that is more effective and dependable in operation, more rugged in construction, and less liable to give trouble or become inoperative due to seizure of the movable joints.

These and other objects and novel features will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a side view of a flashlight embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional View along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is a fragmentary'sectionalview of the headendof theflashlight shown in Fig. 1, taken along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the. head of the flashlight shown in Fig; 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectionalview of the bottom end of the flashlight shown in Fig. 1, taken along theline. 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6i's a side- View of the flashlight shown in 1-, with the'head and bottom cap in extended or open position and the-central portion partly broken away;

Fig. 7 is a view of the flashlight bottom cap taken along line of Fig. 6 through the links with the battery supporting spring removed to show the-bottom cap structure;

Fig. 8 is aview of the rear end of the casing, taken along line 8-8: of Fig. 6 through the links;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the bottom end of the flashlight. taken along line 9---9 of Fig. 7;

Fig; 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing abottom cap of sheet metal; and

Fig, 11 is-afragmentary sectional view similar to Fig 9 showing another view of the sheet metal bottom cap.

According to the present invention, the improved flashlight casing' comprises a head A, a bottom closure 13, and an intermediate tubular body 0. All three are in. axial alinement and adapted to enclose and carry one or more batterie's or dry: cells D, a lamp support E, a lamp F, areflectior G and a cover glass H. A switch S may be mounted on the body C to control the circuit of. the. battery and. lamp to light and extinguish the latter. The head A, the closure B, and. the body. C preferably are of relatively thin metal of substantially the same thickness.

Both the head A and the closure B are preferably permanently connected. to the: body C in suclr a. manner that these three parts. are. incapable of complete separation but either the head'A or the closure. B, or both of these parts may be separated a sufiicient distance from the body C to provide space for the insertion and removal of enclosed parts such as the lamp F andthe dry cells D. Normally, the opposing. ends of the body C respectively abut. against and conform in shapeto theinner or opposed ends of the headiA and. the closure B; and the permanent connection of the head A and the closure B to the body C preferably is such that the head ,A is movable a limited distance axially away from one end of the body C, and the closure B is movable a limited distance axially away from the other end of the-body C. The permanent connecting means may comprise links or equivalent elements which preferably are'completely concealed within the flashlight casing when the parts of the latter are in normal or abutting relation. Since the usual threaded connections of the several parts to one another are thus eliminated, the external of appearance they may be located withinthe casing and for purpose of strength at opposite sides thereof. Also, to avoid interference with other interior elements, the links may be located closely adjacent the inner" surface of'the casing.

The links H] may be secured directly tothe head A although for convenience and conceal-.

ment of the attaching means they'may'be secured indirectly. The head may flare outwardly adjacent the light projecting endwhich may be provided with arelatively short cylindrical portion l2 thereby forming an interior shoulder I4 at the inner end of portion I2.- Upon this shoulder 14 an annular supporter seating member l6 may be disposed, and this seating member may be provided with a suitable number of ears [8 to which the links I6 may be respectively secured by appropriate means such as a joint of solder or a weld.

The head A may also be provided with a suit able reflector G having an outwardly extending peripheral rim 22 disposed upon the seating member or seat l6. An appropriate cover glass or crystal H may be disposed upon the rim 22 of the reflector where it maybe secured by a suitable bezel 26 having aninturned annular portion 28 overlying the outer margin of the crystal and a cylindrical portion 38 in close frictional engagement with the outer surface of thecylindrical portion l2 at the end of the head. To maintain the cover glass H in axial alinement with the reflector the inturned portion 28 of the bezel 26 may be provided with a suitable number of projections 3| extending inwardly around the periphery of the cover glass. The seat 16 may be provided with a downturned outer flange 32 and this flange may be secured to the cylindrical portion I2 of the head A by means such as a Welded or soldered joint located where it may be covered by the bezel.

The head A may be provided with a lamp bulb F in operative relation with the reflector G. This lamp bulb may be mounted in a conventional socket 36, which may be secured to the inner surface of the end wall 38 at the. forward end of lamp support E so that the lamp bulb extends forwardly through a suitable opening at the axis of the lamp support E, and also a suitable opening at the axis of reflector G. The lamp support or sleeve E may have the rear portion thereof rigidly secured within the forward end of the tubular body C and the forward portion disposed in frictional engagement with the inner surface of the rear portionof head A.

The links Il! may be disposed between the body C and the sleeve E, and the inner end of each link may be provided with asuitable stop such as an inwardly extending ear 46 adapted to-engage the sleeve E and hold the head against sep aration from the body. 5

For the purpose of providing space for the links H] the casing may be provided with a peripheral contour other than-round, such'for example as squarish or similar to that of a square with the sides bulged outwardly until the general shape approaches that of a circle, and each of the obtuse corners of the casing may be provided with an interior longitudinal groove 42 in two of which the links I8 may be secured.

The casing may be of sheet metal of suitable thickness and the grooves 42 may appear as longitudinal flutes on the outside. For purpose of L appearance it may not be desirable to have these *flutes extend outwardly the full thickness of the links), and therefore the grooves 42 may be somewhat less in depth than the thickness of the thereof.

The bottom cap or closure B may be connected to the body C by a suitable number of links 46 similar to the links In connected with the head. Ordinarily two links may be employed the same as with the head and they, may be secured in the same grooves as those of the head, although where the body C is less than twice the length of the links, the links 46 may be secured in the two grooves 42 not occupied by links [0.

The links 46 may be secured in the body C in a manner similar tov those at the head of the casing. For this purpose the bottom end of the body C may be provided with a sleeve or collar 48 which may be rigidly secured within the body inside the links 46 by suitable means such as 3 solder. Toprovide suitable space between the collar 48 and the body C, the collar may be provided with a suitable numberof grooves 58 each in alinement with one of the grooves 42 in which one of the links 46 is secured.

The width and the combined depth of the cooperating grooves 42 and 50 may be such that the links 46 will slide freely therein the same as the links l0 do in the cooperating grooves 42 and 44, and like the links [0 each of the links 46 may be provided with an inwardly extending projection or stop 52 located in a suitable position adjacent the inner end to engage the collar 48 when the bottom B has been withdrawn and hold it from being detached. Also, the collar 48 may extend outwardly beyond the end of body C a suitable distance to provide a lateral support for the bottom cap B.

For convenience in securing the links 46 to the bottom cap B, the outer ends of the links may be joined by a yoke 54 which may be suitably secured to a projection or boss 56 on the inner side of the bottom cap. The yoke 54 may be integral with the links 46 or separate and suitably' secured thereto. be somewhat wider than the ends of the links, and this central portion may be provided with an opening. The bottom cap B may be provided with a recess 58 in the inner face of appropriate size and depth to receive the portion of collar 48 projecting beyond the end of body C, and also, the central portion may be provided with a boss 56 having a shoulder 68 in substantial alinement with the bottom of recess 58. The reduced portion of the boss 56 extending inwardly from the shoulder 66 may be secured in the opening in the yoke 54 by suitable means such as an annular flange 62 extending outwardly from the boss 56 inside the yoke 54, and to facilitate the formation The central portion may Ill) of this flange the inner end of. the boss 56 may be provided with a suitable axial opening 64.

In tubular flashlights of this general class the battery is usually carried in the casing with one end in contact with a lamp socket secured to the body of the casing and the other end in contact with a supporting spring secured to the bottom end closure or bottom cap. To provide means for holding the body C and the bottom cap B of this flashlight against separation by the pressure of the battery supporting spring, a latch 66 may be provided.

The latch 66 may be secured to the bottom cap B in latching frictional engagement with the body C or a member such as an interrupted flange secured to the body. In form the latch may have a circular central portion 68 provided with a suitable aperture, and outwardly extending resilient ears 10 at opposite sides thereof. To secure the latch to the bottom cap the boss 56 may be provided with a groove 12 between the yoke 54 and the flange 62, and this grooved portion of the boss may be secured in the latch so that the latch is interposed between the yoke 54 and the flange 62. The engagement between the latch and the boss may be rigid, and the engagement between the yoke and the boss may provide relative movement such as rotary movement.

To provide latching engagement with the body C' the collar 48 may be provided with an interrupted flange I4 extending inwardly from the outer end thereof. To provide space for the yoke 54 and links 46 the flange may be provided with an opening 16 adjacent each of the grooves and to provide space for the ears of the latch to pass behind the flange, this flange 14 may be provided with suitable openings 18.

To latch the ears I0 behind the flange 14, the ears may be movedinwardly through the openings i8 and then rotated about the axis of the boss 56. Since the latch is within the casing out or" reach, some exposed portion may be employed to move the latch, and for this purpose the bottom cap B may be suitable. Thus, during the closing movement, the bottom cap B and the latch 66 may rotate with respect to the yoke 54. Although the latch is rigidly secured to the bottom B by its rigid engagement with the boss 56, and the yoke 54 is secured in movable engagement with the boss, other means may be provided to more firmly unite the latch and bottom cap into a movable unit and to limit the range of movement with respect to the yoke and links.

For this purpose the bottom cap B may be provided with an inwardly extending annular interrupted projection 80 that extends inwardly a suitable distance beyond the yoke for a purpose to be explained. This projection may be provided with suitable openings 82 in which the ears of the latch closely fit, and somewhat longer openings 84 in which the yoke 54 may remain stationary when the bottom cap B is partially rotated. Also, to facilitate the passage of the latch behind the flange '14, each of the ears 10 may be provided with an inwardly inclined lip 86 at the leading edge thereof. Furthermore, to provide suitable contact with the battery D the bottom. cap B may be provided with a conventional battery supporting contact spring 90 having the outer end thereof secured in resilient engagement with the interior surface of the projection 86, which may be provided with a suitable number of spring retaining bosses 9| which partially overlie the portion of spring 90 in engagement with the projection BI] and secure it against accidental disengagement.

To facilitate the operation of latching the bottom cap to the body of the casing, means may be provided for holding the ears 10 of latch 66 in alinement with the openings 18. For this purpose the openings 84 may be of such length and location that when the yoke 54 is at one end thereof the ears ill of the latch are in alinem'ent with the openings 78, and when the yoke is at the other end the ears may be latched behind the i'iange 14. To hold the yoke at the end of the opening 84 where the latch may enter the openings 18 in the flange 74, resilient means such as a suitable spring 92 having insufiicient strength to disengage the latch from latched position may be provided with one end secured to the yoke 54 and one end secured to the latch 66. To provide space for the spring 92 the bottom cap B may be provided with an annular recess 94 in the inner surface surrounding the boss 55, and the spring 92 may be located in this recess with one end secured in a suitable opening in latch 66 and the other end secured in a suitable opening in yoke I Instead of the bottom cap B described hereinbefore, which may be of cast metal such as a die casting, the flashlight may be provided with a bottom cap of sheet metal which is the mechanical equivalent of that previously described.

This sheet metal bottom cap, as shown by Figs. 10 and 11, may comprise an inner disc or plate 96 of suitably formed sheet metal rigidly secured in an annular recess 98 of a sheet metal outer 1 shell I09 having an outer contour substantially the same as that of the cast bottom cap. In this construction the yoke 54 may be located between the bottom of the shell I90 and the plate 96 to which it may be secured by a suitable rivet I82 which may be loosely secured in suitably alined openings in the plate and the yoke to provide relative rotary movement. To further provide for this movement, the plate 95 may be provided with suitable openings Hi4 through which the links 46 extend and the length of these openings may be somewhat longer than the width of the links to provide space for rotating the cap with respect to the links and also for limiting the range oi this movement.

Instead of the latch 66, the plate 95 may be provided with a suitable number, such as two, outwardly extending ears lilfi corresponding in shape and relative position to the ears ill, and, like the ears 1! these ears I lit may be moved into latching frictional engagement with the inner surface of flange 14. Also, to hold the ears in proper position to pass through the openings 18, a spring H38, similar to spring 92 and of insufficient strength to disengage the latch from latched position, may be provided with one end secured in a suitable opening in the yoke 54 and the other end similarly secured in a suitable opening in the plate 95. between the end of spring E08 extending through yoke 54 the plate 95 may be provided with a suitable recess HD in the portion overlying the end of spring I98 secured to the yoke.

To secure the battery supporting contact spring 98 to this bottom cap the plate 96 may be provided with a suitable number, such as four, inwardly extending overturned ears H2 in which the spring 9!! may be resiliently seated, and, like the preceding cap, this bottom cap may also be provided with a conventional ring hanger H4 To prevent binding which may be secured to the cap in a conventional manner.

From the standpoint of operation it may be assumed that the flashlight is provided with a conventional battery D such as that shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 5. For the purpose of providing illumination this flashlight may be operated in the usual manner by closing the switch S. When it becomes necessary or desirable to replace the lamp bulb with a new or'difierent one, the head A may be withdrawn from the body C into substantially the position shown in Fig. 6. In this position the lamp bulb may be readily reached and replaced, and the head remains securely attached to the body by the supporting links so that all risk of dropping or misplacing the head is obviated. After the bulb has been replaced, the head may be moved back into operating position by pressing the head and body together where the frictional engagement between the head A and the sleeve E holds the head against accidental displacement.

When it is desirable to reach the battery for renewal or replacement, the bottom B may be rotated with respect to the body to disengage the latch or ears 10 from the flange 14 and then the bottom may be withdrawn the same as the head into a position where the battery cells may be removed and replaced. After the battery cells have been replaced the bottom may be moved back to closed or operating position by reversing the withdrawing operations.

When it is desirable to remove the reflector, the bezel may be removed by simply pulling it off the head upon which it is held by frictional engagement only, and then the crystal H and reflector G may be removed in the usual manner.

Although the preferred embodiments of the novel features of the invention have been shown and described, the invention may be embodied in other similar and equivalent structures in which the component parts are of different form, or shape, and in different relative positions. Also, other similar and equivalent materials may be substituted for those described.

I claim:

1. A flashlight casing comprising a head memher, a reflector and cover glass secured in fixed relation thereto, a bottom member, and a tubular body between said members; and means so constructed and arranged that said members are permanently connected to said body but are independently axially separable therefrom a limited distance, said means maintaining said body and separable members in substantially rigid axial alinement when separated.

2. A flashlight casing as claimed in claim 1, in which such connecting means comprises links normally disposed within and concealed by said casing.

3. A flashlight casing as claimed in claim 1, in which such connecting means comprises links extending lengthwise of said casing, and said casing has longitudinal grooves therein to receive said links.

4. A flashlight casing comprising a reflector containing head member, a bottom member, and a lamp bulb containing tubular body between said members; supporting means so constructed and arranged that at least one of said members is permanently connected to said body but is separable therefrom only a limited distance, said supporting means comprising a sleeve rigidly secured within said body, a plurality of links secured to said member and movably disposed between said body and said sleeve, and a suitable stop secured to said links in position to engage said sleeve when said member is withdrawn from said body to hold it against being detached.

5. A flashlight casing comprising a reflector containing head member, a bottom member, and a lamp bulb containing tubular body between said members; supporting means so constructed and arranged that at least one of said members is permanently connected to said body but is separable therefrom only a limited distance, said body being provided with a plurality of internal grooves, and a sleeve rigidly secured within said body and having a plurality of grooves in alinement with those in said body; and said supporting means comprising a plurality of links secured to said member with each secured in one of the cooperating grooves in said body and said sleeve.

6. A flashlight casing as claimed in claim 1, in which said connecting means comprises two links secured to said head member and disposed at opposite sides of said body adjacent the inner surface, and two links secured to said bottom member and disposed at opposite sides of said body adjacent the inner surface in a different angular position from said first mentioned links.

7. A flashlight casing comprising a head member, a bottom member, and a tubular body between said members; means so constructed and arranged that said members are permanently connected to said body but are independently separable therefrom only a limited distance, said body being provided with a plurality of internal grooves; and said connecting means comprising a plurality of links secured to said head member and disposed in part of said grooves, and a plurality of links secured to said bottom member and disposed in part of said grooves not occupied by said first mentioned links.

8. A flashlight casing comprising a reflector containing head member, a bottom member, and a lamp bulb containing tubular body between said members; supporting means so constructed and arranged that at least one of said members is permanently connected to said body but is separable therefrom only a limited distance, said connecting means comprising a plurality of links slidable lengthwise of said body; one end of said body being provided with an inturned interrupted-flange; and said bottom member being provided with a movable resilient latch adapted to resiliently engage said flange, means for limiting the relative movement between said latch and said links, and resilient means inadequate to unlatch said latch for normally holding said latch in position to pass through the openings in said interrupted flange.

9. A flashlight casing as defined by claim 1, in which said means comprises a plurality of links movably secured to said body; and said head member is provided with an annular reflector support rigidly secured thereto and including a plurality of cars extending inwardly of said head and respectively secured to said links.

10. A flashlight casing comprising a bottom cap composed of an outer shell; a plate secured within said shell; means for releasably securing said cap to said flashlight casing comprising a plurality of ears rigidly secured to said plate and adapted to engage said casing; means for providing a limited range of relative movement between said cap and said casing comprising a pluralityof links slidably secured to said casing and rotatably secured to said plate; and a battery contact spring suitably secured to said plate and ends of said body; links disposed in said cooperextending inwardly of said casing.

11. A flashlight casing comprising a head member, a bottom member, and a tubular body between said members; and means so constructed and arranged that at least one of said members is permanently connected to said body but is separable therefrom only a limited distance, such connecting means comprising a plurality of links having a yoke connecting the outer ends thereof, means for securing one of said members to said yoke so that the last-named member may be rotated with respect to said links, and means rotatable with said last-named member for securing it to said body.

12. A flashlight casing comprising a head member, a bottom member, and a tubular body between said members; and means so constructed and arranged that at least one of said members is permanently connected to said body but is separable therefrom only a limited distance, one end of said body being provided with an interrupted inturned flange, and one of said members being provided with a latch rigidly secured thereto and including a plurality of ears adapted to be releasably secured within said flange.

13. A flashlight casing comprising a head member, a bottom member, and a tubular body between said members; and means so constructed and arranged that at least one of said members is permanently connected to said body but is separable therefrom only a limited distance, said body being provided with an inturned interrupted flange, such connecting means comprising a plurality of links rotatably secured to one of said members and axially movable with respect to said body, the last-named member having a latch adapted to engage said interrupted flange upon rotation of said last-named member, said lastnamed member also having an interrupted inwardly extending projection for limiting the degree of rotation of said latch and said last-name member with respect to said links.

14. A flashlight casing comprising a head member, a bottom member, and a tubular body between said members; and means so constructed and arranged that at least one of said members is permanently connected to said body but is separable therefrom only a limited distance, such connecting means comprising a plurality of links slidable lengthwise of said body and provided with a connecting yoke rotatably secured to said bottom member, said body having an inturned interrupted flange adjacent said bottom member, said bottom member having a latch movable therewith into engagement with said flange, said bottom member having means for limiting the movement of said bottom member with respect to said links.

15. A flashlight casing comprising a head member, a bottom member, and a tubular body between said members; a sleeve secured within each end of said body; cooperating grooves formed on the internal periphery of said body and the external periphery of each of said sleeves; said sleeves extending outwardly beyond the respective ating grooves, certain of said links being secured to said head member and others of said links being secured to said bottom member; means on each of said links for engaging a sleeve for limiting axial separation of said head member and said bottom member from said body; said head member and said bottom member each being formed to have alinement maintaining engagement with a sleeve when said head member and said bottom member are moved into abutting engagement with said body.

16. A flashlight casing as claimed in claim 15, in which the sleeve disposed to engage said head member is provided with a support for a lamp bulb, the sleeve disposed to engage said bottom member is provided with an inturned interrupted flange at its outer end; said bottom member is provided with a centrally disposedinwardly projecting boss and an annular recess surrounding said boss; the links connected to said bottom member are secured to a yoke which is in pivotal engagement with said boss; said bottom member is provided with an inwardly extending annular member having one set of interruptions receiving said yoke and of sufficient extent to permit a limited movement of said bottom member with respect to said yoke, a latch comprising radially extending cars is fixedly secured to said boss and said ears are adapted to extend through the interruptions in said inwardly extending flange, a spring is seated in said annular recess and secured to said latch to maintain said ears in alinement with interruptions in said annular flange, and a battery supporting spring is secured to said annular member and extends inwardly from said bottom portion.

17. A flashlight casing as claimed in claim 15, in which said bottom member comprises a sheet metal disc formed with an axially extending circumferential flange, the outer end of which is provided with a radially extending circumferential groove, a second sheet metal disc secured in said groove in spaced parallel relation to said first sheet metal disc, a yoke connected to the links secured to said bottom portion and pivotally secured to said second sheet metal disc, latch means secured to said bottom portion and adapted to engage a flange formed on one of said sleeves, and a battery contacting spring secured to said second sheet metal disc.

18. A flashlight casing comprising a bottom cap; a tubular body provided with an interior flange adjacent said cap; means for providing a limited range of relative axial movement for withdrawing said cap from said body and maintaining said body and cap in substantially rigid axial alignment when separated, said means comprising a plurality of links slidably secured to said body and movable with said bottom cap; means for releasably securing said cap to said body comprising a plurality of ears mounted on said cap and adapted when rotated to engage said flange, and means for rotating said ears from the outside of said cap.

HERMAN G. GRAUBN'ER. 

